There are lots of benefits of being a Missionary Kid (MK), and each MK could probably give you their own opinion of what those benefits are. I could probably come up with a huge list (some funny and some serious). One day I’ll have to do another blog post with a long list. For now, I’m going to tell you four big benefits of being an MK.
Traveling
Getting to travel is one advantage to being a missionary kid. If you like to visit different countries, sample different types of food, and see exotic places, this is the life for you! Some missionaries have to travel for several days to even arrive at the place where they will live. Some visit different countries due to the type of work they do, and some travel extensively within the country where they serve.
Learning Other Languages
Most MK’s speak, or are learning, at least one other language besides their mother tongue. Some speak 4 or 5 languages. This will greatly depend on the country where they live and amount of languages they are exposed to. It will also depend on each kid’s ability to assimilate a new language. Let’s face it…some people pick up language much more quickly than others. Kids tend to learn very quickly and can have a native accent. Sometimes, people may not realize that the MK’s are foreigners because they speak so well in the language of the country where they live.
Meeting New People
This is great if you are an extrovert! Missionaries are constantly meeting new people, whether this is in the country where they work, or back in the United States while traveling to tell about their ministry. An MK will meet tons of new adults and children and will learn how to establish a connection with new people in a short amount of time.
Adapting to New Situations
MK’s are some of the most resilient people. They spend a lot of time learning to adapt to new situations, and they become very good at it. They can usually quickly identify how to act in order to fit in, and may be viewed as reserved at first. This stems from the need to assess a new situation and decide what behavior is expected.
Obviously, there are many more benefits that could be put on a list, but these are some of the main ones. Feel free to comment with your own ideas and opinions. What are some other benefits?